A strong storm system that had a history of producing deadly tornadoes across Oklahoma and the deep south on the 14th and 15th weakened as it crossed the southern Appalachians during the early morning hours of the 16th. A squall line descended the Blue Ridge by the late morning hours, and rapidly intensified as it moved east into the central Piedmont of North Carolina, with four long live tornadic supercells evolving from the linear convective segment. These tornadic supercells went on to produce 9 tornadoes in the Raleigh CWA, including 2 EF3s, and 4 EF2s. The tornadoes left 6 dead with approximately 275 injuries.

Event Narrative

The tornado exited Bladen County and moved into Cumberland County just west of NC Highway 242. The tornado moved northeast, crossing NC Highway 210 near Smith Road and Peters Creek road. In this area, a few homes were damaged with one home sustaining heavy damage rated EF2. There were four injuries sustained by some of the occupants. Hundreds of trees were also downed in this vicinity. Damage was also observed along Broadwater Bridge Road, east of Smith Road.